Chicago Brain Injury Lawyer Blog

Through the years our Chicago personal injury attorneys have come to appreciate the apprehension that many local residents have about visiting an attorney. For one thing, many residents decide not to visit with a legal professional, because they are unsure if they even have a case. Many residents want basic accountability on the part of those involved in the incident, but they do not want to come across as “money-hungry.” Unfortunately, some residents buy-into the mistaken notion that visiting with a legal professional to learn about how the law applies in certain situations is akin to trying to make a quick buck.

That could not be further from the truth.

The need to take practical steps to protect one’s legal interest is nothing to be ashamed of or shied away from. In fact, in the case of traumatic brain injury or other debilitating accidents, it is often a practical necessity to seek out accountability to ensure that the victim will have the resources they need to receive the best treatment and rehabilitation possible. The costs associated with treating and adapting following a brain injury are often incredibly high. The most severe victims often require around-the-clock care for the rest of their lives, particularly if they have lost the ability to perform basic functions like walking, talking, or eating.

In addition, many victims in our area and their families fail to seek out the help of an experienced Chicago brain injury lawyer, because they are contacted by an insurance companies. Victims of certain kinds of incidents—such as car and truck accidents—often assume that offers by an insurance company following the incident will sufficiently cover their interests and ensure their loved one receives the compensation they need to make themselves whole. Unfortunately, it is a risk to make that assumption. The fact remains that insurance companies are companies in the business of trying to pay out as little money as possible following accidents.

That is not to say that these companies are always out to swindle unsuspecting victims. However, it is fair to say that there can be significant ramifications from assuming that the insurance company is looking out for the best interests of those involved. They are not. The only way to ensure that you have a proper legal advocate who is zealously working specifically on your behalf is to get in touch with a personal injury attorney to provide assistance. All lawyers experienced in the area will understand how to work with insurance companies and have a proper gauge on the overall scope of losses that were actually sustained in an incident and which should be compensated.

Considering that most attorneys involved in these situations do not charge a fee unless you are compensated, there is little to lose by visiting with a legal professional to learn about your options. Of course, legal implications are often the last thing on a family’s mind in the immediate aftermath of an injury. Proper recovery should always be prioritized. However, once the medical condition is stabilized, a legal representative should be consulted reasonably soon. Statute of limitations laws apply, and certain actions taken without the help of an attorney often have permanent legal ramifications.

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We have often reported on the wide range of causes of Illinois brain injuries, from car accidents to sporting collisions. Another of the most common causes of permanent brain damage involves medical neglect. When doctors, nurses, or other caregivers fail to act reasonable, at certain times a life-long, debilitating brain injury may result which should have been prevented. When that occurs, the victims usually file amedical malpractices lawsuit. This is one reason why all those who have suffered one of these injuries should be concerned about the efforts of big business and insurance companies to limit the ability of brain injury victims to recover for their losses. But the problem runs deeper than medical malpractice limits. Many of the biggest tort reform proponents are pushing to take away victims’ rights in a wide range of areas that could have effects on all types of Illinois brain injury victims.

Considering the zeal with which many of these big interests attack the civil justice system, one would be safe to assume that no negligence victims would be secure in their rights if these interests had their way. The justice system is so often attacked by certain organizations, businesses, and industries, that it would seem that those antagonizes would do everything in their power to stay away from that system in all capacities.

However, that is not quite the case. As a new American Association of Justice report reveals, many businesses that ridicule the justice system are active users of it so long as it is for their own benefit. Sadly, much hypocrisy is at the root of efforts to enact tort reform. The new report exposing that hypocrisy, entitled “Do As I Say, Not As I Sue,” focuses on the practices of the ten member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Institute for Legal Reform” (ILR). The ILR is one of the most vocal and active bodies speaking out for taking away basic legal rights from citizens hurt by the misconduct of others. Yet, as the report shows, the zeal for dismantling the justice system seems only to apply to other people, not their own interests.

For example, one ILR board member, Honeywell International, systematically takes competitors to court when they feel that they have been wronged. Of course they are not pushing for any limits on their own ability to recover in those situations. Yet, when the shoe is on the other foot and Honeywell is the defendant in a case—such as when they were accused of selling defective body armor to police officers or downplaying the angers of asbestos—the company suddenly feels that the justice system is out-out-hand. The hypocrisy behind the varying positions is painfully clear. It bespeaks of a deep-seated supreme interest in doing and saying whatever increases the company’s bottom line at any particular moment. It is hypocrisy that must be stood up against.

Our Chicago injury lawyers at Levin & Perconti are happy to devote each day to helping victims of careless and reckless conduct throughout our city and state. We will continue to fight against the hypocritical conduct of so many big industries which seek to limit the justice system’s ability to help regular community members, while keeping it in place for the businesses themselves. The same rules need to apply to everyone, and the right to have a jury decide all the issues in a dispute should be respected as the nation’s Founders intended. If you or someone that you know suffered head trauma or an injury to the brain we encourage you to speak with a Chicago brain injury lawyer to seek redress, ensure accountability, and push for important safety changes that could spare a future victim.

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Our Illinois brain injury lawyer closely follows all stories where injuries affecting the brain are found. It doesn’t take long before it becomes clear that brain injuries can strike in a wide range of circumstances, affecting victims from every segment of society, from our elderly to newborn infants. In all cases, the harm is real. However, there is always something particularly tragic about brain injuries that affect children, because the consequences will likely last their entire lives. It is even more tragic when the injury is the result of strange circumstances that could seemingly have been prevented if only simple safety steps were taken.

For example, the Daily Mail reported this week on one of those heartbreaking cases involving brain injury, this time having to do with a blind cord accident. The cord incident has left a two-year old girl permanently brain damaged and paralyzed for the rest of her life. The news story explains how the toddler was put to bed by her parents just like every other night. However, this night would go horribly wrong. Not long after she was left alone in her room, the two-year old got out of bed and began walking along her window. Unfortunately, in the process the child became entangled on the looped cord used to maneuver the blinds in her room. The cord ended up around her neck, and began suffocating her. The suffocation cut off oxygen flow to her brain, eventually rendering her unconscious.

The child’s father happened to be wandering by the bedroom not long at the incident began and peered in to check on the girl. To his horror, he saw her dangling on the blinds. He immediately puller her down, began CPR, and called for help. Emergency crews were able to stabilize the child but not before significant damage was done. All told the girl spent a week in a coma. When she awoke the oxygen deprivation had caused permanent brain damage. She will never again be able to walk, talk, or feed herself. The young victim is currently working through rehabilitation at a special facility for severely disabled children. Obviously the life the girl’s expected for her will be much different after this tragedy.

The Illinois personal injury attorneys at our firm are shocked every time that we read stories of such tragedy. However, through the years we have come to appreciate that the danger that certain products, objects, and designs pose to unsuspecting consumers and their families. These defectively designed blind cords are just one of many household items that have been found to severely injure or even kill. It is for that reason that these looped cords have already been banned in the United States, specifically because of the dangers they pose to young children. Of course, the enactment of the ban did not mean that all homeowners who already had these cords were suddenly safe. Many homes still have the cords in place either because the homeowners didn’t change them or were unaware of the danger they posed.

But the risks of injury make it incumbent that all those who control environments where young children reside investigate and correct the problems if necessary. This includes day-care operators, babysitters, school administrators and those in similar positions. Without careful observation, accidents strike with alarming frequency. It may seem that these tragedies are pure flukes which can never be guarded against, but once one accident strikes, there is no reason why lessons can’t be learned from it to prevent future harm. Our Illinois brain injury lawyers are proud to work with families whose young children have suffered permanent brain injuries because of accident that could and should have been prevented. We urge those involved in these situations to get in touch with a legal professional as soon as feasible to ensure that your legal rights are protected. Even when an accident strikes which may seem to involve no negligence, upon further investigation it often becomes clear that carelessness led to part of the problem. Please give us a call if you or a loved one may have been hurt in this way to see if we can help.

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Our Chicago brain injury lawyers are very familiar with the well-known developmental brain disorder known as autism. Over the past several decades awareness about the many variations of this condition has increased steadily. More and more families continue to be affected by the brain condition, leading many researchers scrambling to better understand what causes it and how it can be prevented. According to PubMed Health, autism affects the development of the brain areas that control social and communication skills. As a result, symptoms are usually not seen until social and communication skills are first noticed, when children are one and a half to three years old. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that autism is more commonly found in males than females, with upwards of four times as many boys suffering than girls.

Medical researchers are actively working to nail down the causes but as of yet nothing conclusive has been proven. It is known, however, that abnormal brain biology and brain chemistry functions are involved. Most suspect that a range of other factors combine to create the disorder. For one thing, genetics seem to play some role. Studies examining twins have found that identical twins are far more likely than fraternal twins or siblings to experience autism. Researchers have a variety of studies underway aimed at better understanding the various other causes of autism.

For example, this week the Health Jockey discussed a new study on the topics which was just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The research involved the effect of anti-depressants given during brain developmental stages on the resulting offspring. Down the road the results may lead to changes in the medications taken by expecting mothers or mothers trying to have a baby. The research was a joint effort between researchers at the University of Mississippi Centre and University of California. What they found was that rats which were given certain anti-depressants during particular phases of brain development eventually displayed problems like those faced by those suffering from autism. The drugs in question are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). One of the researchers involved in this latest effort believes that taking these during conception may increase risk of autism development. However, it is too early to yet make any concrete determinations.

To arrive at these results, the study used nearly 200 rats, exposing them to SSRIs during certain periods of brain development which would be similar to the first trimester and infancy of a human. The drug treatments lasted for two weeks, beginning eight days after their birth. The rats were then monitored and compared with a control group to determine the consequences of the drug use. That observation revealed that those rats given the SSRIs were less social and less playful than the control group counterparts. Also, this effect was more commonly seen in male rats—suggestive of the same characteristics of autism in humans. While encouraging, this research is just the tip of the iceberg. Those involved explained that “this study is a starting point and a lot more research needs to be done.” The next step, say the researchers, is examining human SSRI use. In particular, researchers plan on analyzing possible consequences of these drug uses in certain doses and at certain times to determine if any connection to brain problems, such as autism, can be seen.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys our proud to help individuals and families who have suffered harm in a variety of ways, from car accidents and medical malpractice to birth injuries and preventable brain accidents. Obviously not all injuries are the result of the preventable negligence of others. Yet, sadly in many more cases than most realize, if others had acted carefully on the road, in the hospital room, or elsewhere, a particularly serious injury may have been avoided. Also, as medical knowledge grows and more information is discovered related to the causes of certain problems, including developmental brain injuries like autism, then it will become necessary for those in a position to prevent the resultant harm take steps which may help lower the risk of the problem occurring.

If at any time you or a loved one suspects that they have not received the care to which you were entitled which may have prevents injury to you or a new child, please get in touch with our office to learn how we can help.

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Car accident brain injuries are perhaps the most common way that community members suffer head trauma. Our Chicago injury attorneys know that auto accidents are the most frequent way that most demographic groups suffer preventable injury of all kinds. This is particularly true of younger residents, as children and teens are more likely to be killed in automobile accident than any other way. Considering the frequency with which these incidents strike, it is to be expected that many of those who are victimized in a car accident suffer head trauma and traumatic brain injuries.

The consequences of these injuries can affect child victims for a lifetime. Penn Live recently shared the story one teen whose life was turned upside down when he suffered a brain injury after a car accident. The victim was only seventeen years old when his car slid off the road and slammed into a telephone poll and nearby tree. A neighbor heard the crash and called emergency officials. When they arrived they immediately transported the teen to a nearby hospital, noting that he had suffered “Level 1 Trauma.” He was soon diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.

The victim seemed to have few injuries, because his physical body suffered no major damage. However, the head trauma alone was life-threatening. He was in a coma for nearly two weeks. The process of waking from a coma after a brain injury is much different from the movies. Instead of a sudden rush, it is a slow process that involved period of consciousness and unconsciousness. However, for this teen, and many other like him, when full consciousness does return, many basic tasks must be relearned.

For example, when this teen victim finally had his feeding tube pulled out, he at first could not talk. He had to use hand signals until he relearned the way to communicate orally. However, the process is not seamless. The brain injury mixes up pathways and makes it difficult to connect thought to words or actions. Many basic things learned as a developing child are lost, sometimes permanently, and sometime only until they are relearned. The young teen in this case is still working on relearning everything he once knew, but he is optimistic about the outcome. However, there are some things that he unquestionable can no longer do. The consequences could be deadly if he suffers another blow to the head. That is why certain physical sports or particularly aggressive horseplay is out of the questions.
Our Illinois brain injury attorneys know all too well the immense challenges facing these victims. When the injury itself is connected to the negligence of another—such as a car accident caused by another’s mistake—then the law allows the victim and their family to recover for their loss. The costs of these injuries are high, not only in financial terms, but also in social, emotional, and physical ones. Families working through this situation should know that they are not alone. Help exists. Please get in touch with our office if you or someone you know is in this situation. For no fee, we can explain how the law might apply in your case and take steps to ensure that your legal rights are protected.

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Awareness continues to grow about the risks faced by young athletes after suffering a sports related brain injury. That increased awareness is cited as a partial explanation for the significant increases being reported in emergency room visits for youth head injuries. Many believe that coaches, parents, athletic directors, and school administrators are taking fewer chances with their young athletes and are having a doctor take a look at them whenever there are concerns that they may have suffered a brain injury. Increased understanding about these risks is a good development that will undoubtedly save many athletes from the many complications that can result when injuries go unnoticed or are ignored.

However, there are still many involved in youth sports who fail to appreciate the seriousness of the risks and fail to take reasonable steps to keep players safe. As a result, lawmakers across the country continue to offer legislative solutions that would make it mandatory for those involved to protect young players from possible youth sports head injuries. For example, the Badger Herald editorialized this weekend in support of proposed legislation in the state on the topic. The bill would require coaches to take a player out of a game or practice who is between the ages of 11 and 19 if they believe that they may have suffered a traumatic head injury. The bill would go further and prevent the player from practicing or going into a game until they receive written permission from a health care provider. The root of the legislation is an effort to prevent players from playing after they have experienced a concussion. Legislators have no doubt followed the growing medical evidence which have associated successive concussions with large medical risks.

Contrary to the perception of some, concussions must be taken seriously, because their long-term effects can be significant and include depression, chronic headaches, and memory loss. These injuries are particularly harmful if they involve repeat head trauma. They have a cumulative effect on the brain with conditions worsening over time. Startlingly, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that diagnosed concussions likely only represent roughly 15% of all the actual concussions suffered by young athletes. That means many experience a brain injury and then go right back out onto the field or the rink to face additional physical contact. Often, it is only when a player has experienced several concussions suffering permanent damage that proper treatment is provided. By then it is usually too late.

Our Illinois sports injury lawyers are well versed in the long-term consequences of untreated or mistreated concussions. From mild dizziness to death and everything in between, concussions can affect the lives of those who suffer from them in many ways. The risks increase significantly when not properly handled, and so all efforts to account for those risks and prevent long-term injury must be supported. Also, all those who have suffered one of these injuries that should have been prevented should take the time to visit with a legal professional to determine the justice system provides an avenue by which the victim can receive some compensation for the losses they suffered.

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Obviously when a local child suffers an Illinois brain injury there will be consequences. The brain is the most complex organ in the body, and it plays a role in so many different, basic human functions. Therefore, when a brain injury occurs the child will likely have certain problems with mobility, sight, hearing, thinking, communicating, and other issues. These lifelong problems will also often come with the need for close and costly medical care. The losses suffered by these victims and the cost of those losses are why brain injury lawsuits can result in significant verdicts for the families involved.

New research has recently been published which adds a new perspective to discussions about the losses suffered by brain injury victims. While perhaps only reflecting what was assumed by most anyway, a new study published yesterday in Pediatrics magazine reported that children who suffered moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries have a considerable reduction in their quality of life. The “quality of life” measurement was quantified based on the functioning level of the child victims. The research was conducted by medical professionals from the University of Washington. Those involved measured the progress of nearly 730 children who had suffered from a traumatic brain injury and nearly 200 children who had suffered an arm injury. They then measured the adaptive skills, participation in social and community activities, and similar measurements along with the actual function progress.

Overall the researchers found that those children who had suffered a brain injury had significantly lower scores on all quality of life measurements when compared with baseline numbers. Some improvement occurred during the first two or three years after they suffered injury, but that improvement leveled off and their quality of life remained lower than that of their counterparts. Doctors involved explained that the communication and self-care challenges were particularly harmful for victims, with many of these issues never being resolved, even years after the injury. The study’s authors wrote that “further efforts to understand the reasons for persistent symptoms and to develop effective treatments might be needed.”

Overall, this study arrived upon findings that our Illinois traumatic brain injury attorneys would have assumed already based on our decades working for families whose children suffered preventable brain injuries. While functioning problems and quality of life are not synonymous, there are obviously very strong connections. For one thing, the social ramifications of brain injuries are significant. Every interaction with other human beings requires a complex range of abilities, from being able to actually speak and understand the words being spoken to recognizing facial expressions and understanding abstract ideas being shared. All of those processes can be, and often are, impaired by a brain injury. Therefore, these victims often lose the ability to connect with their loved ones in the same way they would have without the injury. Relationships lie at the heart of quality of life data, and so injuries that affect human relationships (such as those impacting the brain) clearly lead to a decreased quality of life.

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Illinois construction accident injuries are one common way that local resident suffer a brain trouble. Some brain injuries are caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain that develop at birth during the child’s delivery. However, when a birth injury is suffered in other contexts, it is usually the result of severe trauma to the head from a significant blow. That is why sports injuries often involve brain trouble, because they are the result of contact during the game. Similarly, construction areas are often the site of injuries that involve harmful, severe head contact.

Construction accident brain injuries often have lifelong or even fatal consequences for those involved. The severity of many of these accidents makes it vital that those in charge of safety at these work areas take all reasonable precautions to prevent accidents and ensure that timely treatment is provided afterwards such that the lives of those involved can be saved. Unfortunately, serious harm caused by these incidents continues to affect residents throughout the country.

Our Illinois brain injury attorneys were saddened to learn of the death of a construction worker late last week. As reported in The Saratogian, a 62-year old Department of Transportation worker was killed as a result of a head injury while he was working on a bridge repair. According to reports, the man was in the basket of a boom truck underneath the bridge when he hit his head on the bridge’s steel support. The impact was strong, and it caused immediate damage. Witnesses report that the man became immediately incapacitated. Another employee on the scene was able to override the controls of the basket and maneuver it down. However, the severity of the injury made recovery impossible and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is unclear what led to the accident. It seems that the man was wearing a hardhat and harness at the time—which is standard procedure to ensure head safety and prevent falls. It is possible that the equipment involved may have malfunctioned. However, it will take some time and further investigation before officials have a better understanding of what exactly led to the deadly accident.

The Chicago brain accident lawyers at our firm understand that a variety of legal issues are involved in cases such as the one described here. For one thing, the cause of the injury must be more conclusively determined. If the equipment failed to act as it was supposed to act, then there is potentially some liability on the part of those who made or maintained the equipment in question. No matter what the ultimate cause of the injury, the state and the agency which employed the victim could face some liability if the procedures that they had in place were insufficient to either prevent the accident or ensure that rescue was provided in as timely a manner as possible. Unfortunately, in many cases where brain injuries are involved—from the workplace to the football field—those involved in the area’s safety only make necessary changes when they are forced.

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WSYR News reported today on developments in the tragic story involving the young high school football player who died after suffering a head injury during a school football game. The entire community was shocked to learn that the young man had passed away from his injuries as he was being treated from the football head injury at a local hospital. His passing was made all the more surprising for those who were watching the game, because the young man seemed to be talking to those nearby and without injuries that appeared life-threatening.

However, our Illinois brain injury lawyers know that one of the unique risks posed by head trauma is that fact that they may cause severe damage that is not readily apparent. In addition, the injury can actually arise even when the specific trauma appears slight. In the football context, that means that severe harm may arise, even though a player seemingly is not hit hard at all. That appears to be what happened in this most recent case according to the school’s athetic director. He explained that the coaches and staff reviewed the film of the game and could not identify a single, major hit that likely caused the trouble. The victim was not even involved in the play after which he fell to the ground. The student was involved in a few other plays before that one, but there was not any particularly violent collision in any of them. Instead, the young man simply experienced the basic contact found in the game.

One medical expert in the area explained that there are no easy answers when it comes to understanding what happened in this case. He explained, “It doesn’t even have to be a head injury. If we’re running fast enough and hit, and just inside your helmet, you brain does one of those little shakes…that is all it takes.” The lack of contact necessary to cause potentially life-threatening injuries in these games comes as a shock to many parents who never knew how risky some of these most physical games could be.

The increasing medical awareness of the seriousness of these injuries has led many states to strengthen their guidelines for high school sports. There is also action on the national level. Congress has recently put pressure on the makers of football equipment to enact changes that will reduce injuries and better explain safety risks to those involved in these activities. Football helmets in particular must be reconditioned consistently to ensure they provide the protection players need. Many school districts are also imposing stricter rest periods for those players that experience a head injury. It is advisable for those athletes who experience a concussion to sit out of activities for a week after symptoms subside. The rest period needs to be even greater for all those who suffer a second concussion. Failure to properly account for these risks often unnecessarily risks more severe harm resulting from the sports head injury.

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In many parts of the country and many different households, Fall is a favorite time of the year specifically because it is football season. Football is a decidedly American sport, and for decades many young athletes have spent their weekdays practicing with the team, playing community games on Friday nights, and enjoy weekend pick-up games. Our Illinois sports injury lawyers know that while the game is cherished by many, it comes with some dangers that must be accounted for at all times.

Over the past few years more and more families have become aware of the risk of head injuries in contact sports—particularly football. With football, contact is essentially half of the battle as athletes intentionally ram against each other as they struggles to move down both sides of the field. The physicality of the game means that many athletes face a myriad of injuries as a result, with concussions leading the list. When playing the game, athletes of all ages, from Pee-Wee youngsters up to the professionals, run the risk of experiencing severe head trauma which can causes a concussion.

It is vital that no family, coach, or school administrator underestimate the health risks caused by concussions. Experts continue to warn the public that even hits that may seem like a mere bump or an injury with very mild symptoms can have serious, lifelong consequences. To highlight the point, some advocates are spreading the story of a young college football victim. A family was distraught when they discovered that the Division I college athlete committed suicide last year. The young man had no history of depression. Doctors who examined the 21-year old following his death were shocked to learn that he was in the early stages of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a degenerative disease that affects those who have experienced repeated concussions and head trauma.

While doctors are still split on whether the suicide was specifically caused by the CTE, many suspect that it was involved. Many doctors have already though the problem could have mental, social, and emotional effects after studies involved with older, professional NFL players. One doctor explained that “having developed the disease so early raised the possibility that it played a role in his death, and provided arresting new evidence that the brain damage found in NFL veterans can afflict younger players.”

Each new piece of information that comes out about the risks of head trauma posed by football counsels toward extreme care being taken by all those who play a role in the game’s safety. The Illinois brain injury lawyers at our firm urge all parents to be on the lookout for any sign that their young athlete is experiencing the effects of a concussion. These concussions can be tricky to spot, because it may take days after the actual trauma before the athlete actually experiences symptoms. While some recover quickly from a concussion, others have lingering symptoms for weeks. It must be remember that for the vast majority of athletes, a playing career will only last a few years, while brain injuries will last a lifetime.

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Illinois brain injuries can be caused because by a variety of situations, often from a car accident or a slip and fall. At other times, the brain trouble could arise as a result of a birth injury. One of the more well-known brain injuries that can be developed because of mistakes made at birth is cerebral palsy. Our Chicago brain injury lawyers continue to help many families whose children have developed cerebral palsy because preventable mistakes were made by healthcare workers. Many misconceptions remain about cerebral palsy, and many community members are not sure what the condition actually consists of. Contrary to popular perception, cerebral palsy is not a single problem, but it is a group of disorders affecting the brain and nervous system. Suffers often have sensory problems which affect their ability to hear, see, move, learn, and think. The National Center for Biotechnology explains that victims are most commonly identified by their muscular problems, spanning the spectrum from trouble with fine motor skills to an inability to walk.

While cerebral palsy often develops at birth, it can actually arise while the child is still in the womb or after they are already born. Brain infections, bleeding on the brain, severe head trauma, severe jaundice and other problems can lead to cerebral palsy in the early stages of infancy. The birth injury cause of the condition often arises when a baby is born in the breech position. In this situation, the child may experiences umbilical cord prolapse—a compression of the umbilical cord that cuts off blood flow and oxygen to the brain.

Professionals in the area often explain that there are three main types of cerebral palsy. First, ataxis cerebral palsy is a version that causes the afflicted to have muscle tone problems; this results is unstable or shaky movements. The choreoathetoid version of the condition is characterized by spontaneous movements of the trunk, limb, and face muscles. The third type is known as spastic cerebral palsy. It is by far the most common form, constituting over 70% of cerebral palsy sufferers. Spastic cerebral palsy victims have severe mobility problems caused by stiffness in the muscles. These three versions of the condition are often used for ease of understanding but other, rare versions also exist.

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for cerebral palsy. Recently, however, there have been a few medical advances that offer encouraging hope to those wishing for a fix. In one high-profile case, a four year old girl suffering from cerebral palsy saw vast improvement after she received an injection of her own stem cells which were taken from her umbilical cord shortly after her own birth. Her family explains that she was able to walk, talk, and interact significantly better following the injection.

Through the years as our Illinois cerebral palsy lawyers have worked with families facing this condition, we have come to appreciate the immense costs faced by victims. Most sufferers require around the clock specialize care to ensure that they receive the aid they need. Because the condition arises at birth or in infancy, those costs must be borne over a lifetime. Obviously, it is only a very rare family that has the personal resources to pay for those staggering medical costs. Most are instead require to use public programs for assistance. In other cases, when the brain injury was caused by a mistake by medical professionals that should have been prevented, families are capable of receiving assistance from the wrongdoer for the costs of the care.

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Last week Health Imaging News shared the results of a troubling new study which found that certain children who experience head trauma may not be receiving the care they need to ensure their well-being. Specifically, our Illinois brain injury lawyers were disturbed to learn that African-American and Hispanic children were less likely to receive a cranial CT scan after head trauma when compared to white children. This is according to the results of a recently released paper from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Researchers involved in the projects reviewed available data on children who sought care at twenty five Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network trauma centers. They specifically looked at the CT scan use by professionals compared with the child’s possibility of having suffered a traumatic brain injury. In total, the records of over 42,000 children were evaluated. Out of that group, roughly 35 percent were given a CT scan to determine if there was any brain injury caused by the head trauma claimed by the patient. Medical professionals have discretion in all of these matters on what testing they deem appropriate.

Broken down by race, the doctors found descrepiciences in what children had the scan performed. Seventeen percent of white children received the scan, compared with only twelve percent of black children, and nine percent of Hispanic children. The researchers involved in the study were cautious when trying to give reasons for the varying rates of CT scan use. Though, logically there are two main choices: either minority children are not receiving the scans enough or white children are being given CT scans too frequently.

Either outcome is alarming. On one hand, brain injuries can have serious, lifelong consequences for those children who experience them. The symptoms of these injuries are notoriously hard to detect, and many sufferers fail to receive any treatment because they are never made aware of their problem. This counsels toward consistent and proper scanning when necessary to ensure the injuries are detected in a timely fashion. However, on the other hand, overuse of these scans results in increased radiation exposure for the children and overall increase in healthcare costs. Those involved with this research study are hoping that more analysis is done that better pinpoints the causes of the racial disparities in neuroimaging.

The Chicago brain injury attorneys at our firm are aware of the potential implications of this and similar research on the lives of the children involved. Fortunately, more and more families are becoming aware of the significant risks posed by brain injuries and the need to take all head trauma accidents seriously. The problem has perhaps received the most attention in the context of sports injuries. Those involved in contact athletics, like football, soccer, hockey, boxing, and similar games, must remain particularly vigilant about the injuries that may be faced by participants. There is little room for error when it comes to the safety of our young community members. That is why medical providers must ensure that they conduct the proper diagnostic testing in a consistent manner at all times.

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Sports and Traumatic Brain Injuries

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News outlets across the country continue to share information about the tragic sports brain injury death that we discussed this weekend. Our Chicago brain injury lawyers remain saddened by the news of the 16-year old high school football player who died this weekend after suffering an on-field hit. The teen was originally able to sit up after the accident, and he talked to the first responders around him. However, his condition deteriorated as he was being taken by ambulance to a hospital, and he passed away from his injuries.

ESPN News reported today on a few more developments in the case which has shed light on exactly how the tragedy arose. According to medical experts involved in the case, the young football player suffered a massive subdural hematoma caused by a helmet to helmet hit during the football game. The medical professional believes that there was no pre-existing injury or other persistent factors that contributed to the accident. In other words, the tragedy was consistent with an accident that could affect anyone in a similar situation. It is a tragic reminder of the dangers of some of these contact sports and the need to do everything possible to keep the young athletes safe.

Subdural hematomas are frequently the most damaging type of sports brain injury that strikes these players. PubMed Health explains that these acute subdural hematomas are perhaps the most deadly of all brain injuries. In general it refers to a collection of blood that builds up on the surface of the brain. The blood often fills up the brain area quickly, compressing the tissue on the brain, and, as this case shows, it can lead to death. Football players who experience head to head hits are some of the most frequent victims of these injuries. It goes without saying that all head injuries must be treated with the utmost care in case a hematoma was suffered. In other cases, a subdural hematoma can be caused by even minor head injuries. This is frequently the case with elderly victims. When a senior experiences one of these problems, it is possible that it could go for weeks without notice. That is why these versions of the problem are often referred to as chronic subdural hematomas.

Our Illinois brain injury attorneys urge all residents to be extra cautious when it comes to head injuries. The consequences are far too high not to take all brain injuries seriously. This is especially true because the problem may lie dormant for a period of time before serious complications arise. In addition, all those in a position to do so much ensure that proper safety steps are taken to prevent these problems from arising in the first place. In the sports context, this might involve frequent checks on helmet safety and mandatory rest periods for those experiencing head injury symptoms. For seniors, prevention of head injury often involves ensuring seniors avoid falls or other significant trauma. In the nursing home context, care workers must identify the residents who are most susceptible to falls and do everything possible to prevent their suffering harm.

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One of the most common causes of Illinois brain injuries that our Chicago brain injury attorneys have seen through the years involve auto accidents. Most of these injuries are caused by severe trauma to the head. When an individual is thrown around at high speeds after being involved in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, that trauma often results. Many local residents have had their lives turned upside down in an instant after suffering one of these injuries following a traffic accident.

As we have frequently reported, there remain precious few scientifically viable treatments for many brain injuries. Medical experts are still hard at work unraveling the mysteries of the human brain, and therefore many of these victims never fully recover to their normal selves. Instead they are forced to spend years relearning many things, and even then, some skills remain out of grasp. However, out of tragedy often comes triumph, and many brain injury victims have made the most of their situation and are working to help other struggling through the consequences of these injuries.

The Sheboygan Press published a story this week that shares the story of a man whose life changed forever when he suffered a traumatic brain injury following a car accident. In April 2005, the man reports that he was stopped an intersection of two highways when his small car was rear-ended by an 80,000 pound semi trailer truck. At first the man thought he was going to escape the accident relatively unscathed. He had a CT scan at the hospital, and everything seemed fine. His doctors told him that his headaches and dizziness should go away.

Unfortunately, they never did.

Instead the man reports that he slowly began having trouble doing basic tasks. He began wandering around his office forgetting where he was or what he was doing. Eventually he was diagnosed with a closed-head trauma caused by the car accident. It has now been six years and he is still working to get his life back to normal. However, as unfortunate as the situation is, the victim in this case has used the situation as a call to advocacy. He is working now to educate others about the effects of traumatic brain injuries and to raise funds to help finds better treatments for victims.

As this man explained, the lack of awareness of these injuries is particularly troublesome, because many people are suffering with the problem and not receiving proper treatment. Far too often victims are not aware that they have actually suffered a serious injury. Instead they simply believe that they have a personal failing and are not able to act normally. It is very important for these individuals to take steps to improve their lives. While a “cure” may not exist, steps can certainly be taken to help brain injury victims function better within society and handle the unique ways that injury affects them. As one leader in the field summarized, “Brain injury is always different and it’s always unpredictable. And you have to take it on a case-by-case basis and really come to get to know the person as they are after the brain injury and not expect them to be what they were prior to the injury.”

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Our Illinois brain injury lawyers were incredibly saddened to read this weekend about a high school football player who died after a Friday night game. The USA Today reported on the tragedy that struck in the third quarter of the varsity football game with many fans, students, parents, and friends looking on. Apparently, a lineman on one of the teams was hit hard during a play and fell face-first onto the field below. Teammates became immediately concerned as he did not get up.

At first, it was assumed that the player would be alright, because he rolled over onto his back by himself and was talking to coaches and trainers. He eventually sat up on his own, but he complained of a very bad headache. When he tried to stand up, he collapsed. He was taken by an ambulance to a local hospital. When he was being transferred to a larger hospital, his condition suddenly started to deteriorate. The ambulance turned around to go back to the closer hospital to perform emergency care. However, there was nothing that the doctors could do to save the student’s life after the head injury, and he passed away.

Obviously the tragedy has sent shock waves through the community. It is never easy to lose a young teenager, and it is particularly sad when the death occurs during a community sporting event. While deaths caused by a single hit on the football field are rare, football head injuries are much more common than many might suspect. In fact, our Illinois sports injury attorneys are very familiar with the severity and frequency of head injuries that occur because of contact during athletic events. New studies which show a rise in brain injuries of this kind have increased concerns from all of those in a position to prevent and treat these injuries which affect young athletes.

Many have concerns about the steps taken to protect those most susceptible. For example, there is some medical evidence which suggests that the equipment currently in use to protect players is inadequate to prevent long-term injuries. Even when football helmets appear to be working at keeping players safe, these injuries are notoriously difficult to identify and symptoms can arise only later. Even the young man in this case who succumbed to his injuries seemed like he would be fine immediately after the incident.

The increasing awareness of these injuries make it less excusable for those in a position to prevent these injuries from occurring to not do everything in their power to keep student-athletes safe. When it comes to equipment, it is vital that only safe equipment be used and that it be inspected on a reasonable schedule to ensure that it remains capable of protecting students as needed. Many schools have football helmets reconditioned every year and require each to undergo a safety screening before students are allowed to use them in a game. In fact, some state legislatures have taken matters into their own hands. Laws continue to be passed which mandates these equipment screenings. On top of that it is often now required for schools not to allow students to play who show symptoms of a concussion, brain injury, dizziness, or headaches.

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Head Injury Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Ex-Football Players

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The Chicago brain injury lawyers at our firm have worked with enough victims of head trauma to appreciate the fact that many victims are never able to fully recover and live exactly as they did before. The disturbing reality about these injuries is that doctors remain mostly in the dark about the best way to get a patient’s brain back to normal after it experiences trauma. This has significant ramifications for the legal aspect of these injuries if they are caused by the negligence of others. For one thing, if a victim has their life forever altered by the accident, then that seriousness will be reflected in the damages that are sought following the filing of an Illinois brain injury lawsuit.

Recently, Tallahassee News reported on the tough future faced by many brain injury victims who often have their lives forever changed in an instant. Many victims are young children and teens, who are forced to deal with challenges that few their age ever consider. For example, one teen girl was riding on her horse two years ago, something she had done a thousand times before, when an accident struck. Her horse stepped into a hole where a fence post had been removed and the girl was thrown to the ground. During the fall her head slammed onto the hard clay surface below and she suffered a traumatic brain injury. It took more than a month in intensive care and months of physical therapy before she slowly began to get her life back together. The young girl had to re-learn everything from walking and talking to swallowing. While she continues to push past the problems and hopes to recover as much as possible, the girl admits that some things may be forever altered. She explained that that she just has to “adjust to the new normal.”

Many others have found themselves in a similar situation. In fact, many support groups have been created where victims of these accidents meet to discuss their situation. One group in the area includes nine young adults who meet regularly to talk about the progress of their treatment, career plans, and other things about their future. The group was founded by a man who works with the state’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. His work with the victims of these accidents and led him to come up with the idea of bringing all the victims together so that they knew they were not alone. He explained that many victims, “were pretty much alone in their injury,” and he decided that “it only made sense to get them all together.”

The Illinois brain injury lawyers at our firm understand the feeling of helplessness that can come with these injuries. We want to remind all victims that help is available. Not all brain injuries are the result of negligence on the part of another. However, in many cases the injury could and should have been prevented if another had acted in a reasonable manner. In those situations the law is clear in providing a remedy for the victims to help them deal with the complications and prolonged recovery efforts.

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Unfortunately, when a civil lawsuit is filed, sometimes defendants do everything in their power to prevent the plaintiff from even being allowed to explain their story to a judge or jury. Instead, as any Illinois brain injury lawyer knows, many tactics are used to delay the process and get a case thrown out of court before it actually goes to trial. One way that is done is by getting a claim thrown out of court claiming that the theory under which a case is based can never lead to recovery. In each civil case there are certain elements that a plaintiff must prove. However, if the plaintiff fails to even mention one of those elements, for example, then the case should not get to the jury. Yet, many defendants and their lawyers often try to convince a judge that a claim made by a plaintiff was insufficient, even though the basic elements and standards are met. From the defendant’s perspective there is often little to lose by trying to get a judge to throw out the case, even if there is little chance that he will.

Occasionally, a judge will dismiss a case, even with merit, based upon mistaken beliefs about the law. Often this means the end for a lawsuit, but sometimes those rulings are appealed to a higher court and reversed. That is what happened in a brain injury case recently reported on by the Bellingham Herald. In this case, a woman filed a brain injury lawsuit after she suffered a diabetic reaction while driving. She was injured, but she claims doctors who assisted her following the injury failed to take steps that should have been taken which diminished her chance of recovery.

According to documents filed with the court, the woman was discharged from the hospital even though she couldn’t even walk by herself to the car and had to be carried to bed once she arrived there. She was not given any treatment information or instructions about head injuries. It wasn’t until that following day that her husband brought her back to the hospital, because she was lethargic. An MRI was taken which proved that she had a stroke. The woman’s two sons, who are both medical doctors, worked for hours trying to have a CT angiogram performed. When it was finally done, it was discovered that the woman had a dissected carotid artery. Even then, the suit claims that there was insufficient treatment provided to the woman whose family eventually had her transferred to a different facility.

The brain injury lawsuit that was filed after the event accuses the doctors and medical facility involved with failing to timely diagnose her problem or provide timely treatment. According to the suit the woman’s chance of recovery was diminished by at least 50 to 60 percent because of the problems. She may have had no disability or at least significantly less disability if that were the case. Originally, the trial court decided that this “diminished chance of recovery” claim was insufficient under the law. However, the case was appealed up to the highest court in the state which ultimately found otherwise. They noted that a jury could find the requisite elements of a proper claim were met based upon the information provided in the lawsuit.

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This week the New York Times published a story exploring the latest work by medical professionals to better understand the effects of traumatic brain injuries. As explained, the recent expanded focus on these problems stems in large part from the fact that these wounds are the “signature” injuries suffered by our troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The current techniques used to treat these injuries are helpful to some, but almost all current treatments lack actual scientific support. As our Illinois brain accident lawyers shared this week, those findings were reflected this week in a report that was released by the Institute of Medicine at the request of the U.S. Department of Defense.

Experts have called the report the most comprehensive analysis yet into the medical treatments available for brain injury victims. A few of the current methods use to help brain trauma had a bit of scientific support—such as the use of special daily journals to help with memory and similar mental functions. However, the vast majority of other treatments had little to no actual evidence supporting their effectiveness. The goal of the research effort was to create a set of guidelines to help those who are assisting the returning soldiers suffering from such issues. However, researchers on the effort essentially concluded that few reasonable guidelines could even be created, because the overall evidence base was too thin. Even then, some experts claim that the situation is even less clear than the researchers suggest in the report. One professional noted, “I think the panel had a slight bias toward wanting these therapies to work, but at the same time it did not overstate the evidence.”

Currently, the military provides so-called “cognitive rehabilitation” to those returning service members who show signs of head trauma. For many of these victims, they sustained these injuries from nonpenetrating blasts on top of head trauma from bombs or bullets. However, many family members of veterans have criticized the current efforts to support these troops. They claim that even though that 20% of injured service members have suffered head trauma, little has been done to help them deal with the long term ramifications. The problem only seems to be worsening as the number of brain injuries suffered by members of the military have nearly tripled in the past decade to more than 30,000.

Continue reading " Institute of Medicine Increases Effort to Study Effects of Brain Trauma " »

Our Chicago brain injury lawyers recently shared the results of new research that painted a somewhat depressing picture of the current ability of medical professionals to treat the complications that result from head trauma, oxygen deprivation, and other injuries that cause brain trouble. The complexity of the brain continues to befuddled our top-notch medical experts who are working to figure out new ways to help patients who have suffered brain injuries. The lack of proper treatment for many victims, means that the consequences are quite high for those who suffer brain trauma.

While many experts have reported on the lack of proper treatment, this week came with a bit of good news, as medical experts released results which indicate some progress in treating these injuries. As reported in Physician’s Weekly, a new study has found that patients taking cholesterol-lowering statins to treat their brain injuries were found much more likely to survive when compare with those who did not take the drug. The research project was conducted by experts at Johns Hopkins and was published in The Journal of Trauma this month.

Statins are a class of drug for cholesterol that works by inhibiting an enzyme that is involved in the production of cholesterol. The research team analyzed senior patients who had moderate to severe brain damage and found that within that group those who were taking statins were much more likely to survive. The only exception was for those who had documented heart disease—those patients were not found to have the same statin benefit.

As encouraging as these results are, it is important to keep them into perspective. There remain no specific treatments know for traumatic brain injury. This latest work is not necessarily a treatment in itself, but it may point the way toward a method of helping these patients down the road. At this point, researchers do not believe that lowering cholesterol actually improves recovery from brain injuries. Instead, they suspect that other properties of the statins are responsible for the increased life expectancy of those taking the drugs. Obviously the next step is to investigate the specifics of the drug to determine what it is about them that actually helps in these situations.

Previous work has already linked the anti-inflammatory effect that statins produce on helping stroke patients survive. The benefit has also been found for those suffering other types of trauma as well. The best guess at this point is that the drugs actually curb the body’s immune response which prevents health brain tissue from being destroyed. This limits the brain damage to the already harmed areas. On top of that, there is a chance that the statins may block chemical byproducts and extra white blood cells from crossing over the blood-brain barrier.

Whatever the case may be, our Illinois brain injury attorneys welcome the news of advances that may improve the lives of those suffering from these injuries. We have worked with many residents, young and old alike, who have suffered an Illinois brain injury. Many families have their lives turned upside down by these preventable tragedies and it is important to ensure that they strike as rarely as possible.

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The Illinois brain accident lawyers at our firm know that one of the main benefits of holding those who cause these accidents accountable is the hope that the accountability will lead to the prevention of future accidents. Many injuries—including those affecting the head—often result in some permanent damage. Medical science has not solved all of the problems related to these situations, and so for many victims there is no returning back to normal. What is perhaps particularly painful about these injuries is that while the body of the individual exists just as it was before, the mind is forever changed. For families this presents painful situations where a loved one’s memory and personality are often forever altered. There is no easy way to deal with one of these accidents, and so a main goal for all those working in our area is to prevent Illinois brain injuries from striking in the first place.

New information reported yesterday in the Washington Post reaffirms the ultimate need to prevent these injuries, because the sad fact remains that most medical professionals still do not have clear strategies for treating traumatic brain injuries. A 250-page report was recently released by the Institute of Medicine which was produced at the request of the U.S. Defense Department. The federal agency is seeking information on the best way to treat the many returning military veterans who have suffered brain injuries. Many of the victims have experienced a variety of problems such as clouded thinking, poor planning and judgment, bad moods, and other issues. The injuries result in employment problems for the returning vets and also result in higher than normal instances of family conflict. The results of the report seeking to improve their situation are less than satisfying.

Overall the fourteen experts who prepared the report found that it remains incredibly difficult to consistently treat these injuries. There is no magic formula or drug that can be doled out to solve the problems. One of those involved in the project explained, “It doesn’t mean beneficial therapies don’t exist. It just means that at this point in time it’s hard to ascertain them.” It will take a lot more work before medical professionals understand what to do to help the many community members afflicted with these brain injuries. Unfortunately, many more victims of brain injuries exist than some would expect. For example, nearly 200,000 military members alone have been diagnosed with these problems in the past decades. Many others involved in sports collisions, car accidents, slip and falls, birthing complications, and other situations have also developed brain injuries.

Considering that medical professionals are still in the early stages of understand the proper therapies to treat these situations, more focus should be on prevention. Our Chicago traumatic brain injury lawyers have worked with many victims and their families whose injuries were caused by the negligence of others. Rooting out that negligence and preventing the accidents before they occur is an essential step in saving lives and sparing families from the lifelong complications wrought by these head injuries.

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Many families have had their lives turned upside down when their young children suffer a childbirth brain injury. Those in our area have not been spared, as our Illinois brain injury attorneys have met many families over the years working through the complications caused by these problems. Understandably many families are lest devastated in the aftermath of these accidents, particularly when they results the death of a loved one. Fortunately, some families are able to work through these tragedies and try to create something positive out of the situation.

An article last month in the Lower Hudson News shared the story of a set of parents that did just that after they lost their young son to a brain injury. This particular family found their lives turned upside down eleven years ago when their son was born with severe brain damage. The child’s mothers explained that the injury was caused by problems during the birth of the child. The infant had oxygen deprived form his brain because of the birth problems, and that deprivation led to the brain damage. This is one of the most common ways that children are afflicted with brain injuries. The damage to this child was of such a severity that his life was in jeopardy essentially from the moment he was born. Unfortunately, the boy was ultimately not able to survive the brain damage; he died eight months after his birth. The family was understandably devastated by the loss.

The boy’s parents decided not to let the loss of their son become dominated by sadness. Instead, they created a foundation to help others in their son’s name. Since its creation the foundation has attracted a variety of supporters who have donated time and money to the cause. As a result, they have been able to provide more than $500,000 to local charities that help young children. Many families whose young children suffer brain injuries are faced with tremendous medical and caregiving costs. When close care must be provided through the life of one of these victims it is not uncommon for the costs to actually reach into the millions. To help ease the burden for some, the foundation has provided assistance such as buying a therapeutic gym for infants with brain damage and providing special equipment for those who have trouble communicating and with mobility issues. In addition, the foundation has an educational component that seeks to spread information about the causes of some brain injuries, particularly those that arise because of complications during childbirth.

Continue reading " Family Donates Funds to Help Victims After Infant Suffers Brain Injury " »

For a Chicago brain injury lawyer, the consequences of traumatic head injuries are very real. Working in this area, it is impossible not to come to grips with the reality of these accidents and the effects that they have on local citizens. However, most people are never aware of what it means to suffer a brain injury until they or someone they love happens to experience head trauma. It is only after a family has to work with through the recovery process that they understand the often permanent affect that these incidents have on victims’ lives.

For example, one woman recently shared her story with the Fairlawn Patch. She explained how her life changed forever when she accidentally fell down the stairs of her home one morning. The victim landed in a heap at the bottom. Her husband called emergency responders, and she was sent to the hospital. She spent three weeks in a coma. Doctors explained that she was lucky to be alive afterward. She experienced a fractured skull and bruising on both temporal lobes on her brain. As a result, even after more than six months of extensive cognitive remediation therapy, she has brain trouble. Most of her problems are centered around speaking and processing the speech of others.

Following her family’s ordeal, the victim has begun working with organizations to raise aware of the consequences of these injuries. She explained how far too many people fail to appreciate the overall scope of the traumatic brain injury (TBI) problem. Every year more people suffer a traumatic brain injury than are diagnosed with breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV, and spinal cord injuries combined. It is not a small problem.

It is important for more residents to understand the scope of the problems and the ways that these TBIs can be prevented. To help in that effort many advocates participate in “The Walk for Thought,” a charitable effort to share victims stories and raise fund for their treatment. The walk has been going on for the last six years. It has become a popular event with many people involved in teams , raising money, and donating their time and resources. In addition actually walking, participants in the program work to share facts about brain injuries and ways they can be prevented.

Our Chicago brain injury lawyers know that these injuries arise in many contexts, from car accidents and falls to situations where medical professionals make mistakes. Sometimes the injury is caused by a simple accident—such as when the woman fell down her stairs. However, in many other cases, the injury was rooted in the negligence of another—like when a risky driver causes a bad accident. These TBIs usually require extensive and costly recuperation. It is important that victims have access to the funds necessary so that they can receive the help they need to get their lives back to normal as much as possible. If you or someone you know has suffered an Illinois brain injury caused by another’s negligence, please get in touch with our office to see how we can help.

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The Chicago brain injury attorneys at our firm have long been concerned about the seeming increase in young athletes who suffer serious head injuries while playing sports. Many of these victims are young students, and their families may not understand the overall scope and potential consequence of these accidents. New research exploring the long-term impact of these sports brain injuries continues to show that they are more serious than previous thought. A variety of lifetime complications could develop if these accidents are not more aggressively prevented and better treated.

New figures on the problem indicate that much awareness still needs to be raised about this issue. As reported Thursday in Bloomberg Business Week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced a troubling rise in youth head injuries. The federal agency noted that over the past nine years, the total number of emergency room visits for head injuries affecting young athletes increase by 60%. Upon closer examination it appeared that bicycling, football, and playground accidents were the most common cause of these head trauma. Soccer and basketball injuries were also found to play a large role in the brain trouble. The raw figures reveal jut how many young people are affected by these injuries. In 2001 there were slightly more than 150,000 ER visits because of these accidents. Only nine year later, in 2009, that figure had risen to nearly 250,000. The problem still affects boys more than girls—likely because boys are more likely to play contact sports. 71% of ER visits were among males. Similarly, those in their teens were significantly more likely to suffer injury. This is again a product of the type of activities that these older children engage in as opposed to those who are particularly young.

While the figures may appear particularly troubling at first glance, it is important to remember that a large factor in the increase may actually be more awareness on the part of coaches and parents that head injuries cannot be shrugged off. When a young athlete is involved in any situation with seemingly severe head trauma—or even indicates symptoms indicative of head trauma—then a doctor must be consulted right away. Even if the brain injury turns out to be less serious and not require hospitalization, it is always beneficial to have a doctors opinion because even minor injuries can have long-term effects or lead to impairments.

As one expert in the area explained, young brains “are known to be more vulnerable to the chemical changes that occur” after a brain injury. Therefore while a child may seem fine after a particularly rough football tackle or a fall off a bicycle, they may actually have suffered brain trauma that will present severe complications down the road as chemical changes are spurred by the trauma. Our Illinois head injury lawyers continue to urge parents not to take risks in these situations. Children have their entire lives ahead of them, and it is particularly troubling when they are affected by a brain injury with complications that could have been avoided if proper care had been provided in a timely fashion.

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Illinois brain injuries can affect individuals of all ages. However, permanent brain trauma disproportionately affects newborn babies, often caused by problems during the birth of the infant. Chicago newborn brain injuries are particularly harmful, because they often result in problems for the children that are permanent. When a young child suffers brain trauma their lives are often affected forever, requiring additional medical and physical assistance indefinitely. It remains vital for every step possible to be undertaken to limit and prevent these accidents affecting our youngest. Part of that task includes learning as much as possible about these accidents so that they can be expected, prevented, and treated properly if necessary.

A new story from the Digital Journal highlighted the efforts of medical researchers to examine the causes and best prevention methods for newborn brain injuries. The new data led by a doctor out of Denver is being touted as the first of its kind to focus specifically on these forms of head injury. The research is long overdue, considering that the trauma connected to childbirth significantly increases the risk of these children suffering a brain injury which might affect their long-term physical and mental development. As it now stands, roughly six in a thousand infants are affected by a brain injury. The new research was targeted at lowering that number by examining information about changes in the mother’s blood before and after birth.

The researcher believes that potential causes of these injuries are blood abnormalities or inflammation. To target this possibility, the doctors involved are taking their blood samples and looking at blood cord and placenta data. Depending on what is ultimately uncovered, the research may have expansive long-term consequences. For example, if the data shows that some delivery methods or birthing procedures influence these blood abnormalities and ultimately the risk presented to the new children, then it may be necessary for those long-standing practices to change. There is no reason why popular notions about the delivery process are guaranteed to be the best to ensure the health and well-being of the children and the mother.

Part of the obligation of medical professionals is keeping abreast of new information and developments in the field about the best way to do their job. Of course it remains inadequate for doctors to stop learning following medical school—patients deserve to receive care up to the current standards and understandings. Therefore, it remains important for all those who help in the delivery process to be aware of this and all information that might prevent young children from developing brain injuries. Unfortunately, some medical professionals make mistakes that have permanent impacts on the young children that they delivery.

Continue reading " New Study Seeks to Analyze Newborn Brain Injuries " »

When a local community members falls victims to an Illinois traumatic brain injury, their life may be forever changed. However, it is usually more than the victim of the physical injury who must deal with the consequences of the accident. The family members of the victim often also have their daily routine’s forever changed as they help their loved one adapt after the accident. Of course, that is not even counting the extreme mental and emotional suffering that often comes after one suffers a brain injury.

Late last week the Pittsburgh Tribune Live discussed how these traumatic brain injuries can immediately change the lives of family—often reversing family roles in an instant. For example, one woman interviewed for the story explains how her life was forever changed in 1995 when her now-thirty six year old son was involved in a motorcycle accident. Her son suffered damage to the left frontal lobe of his brain. He immediately needed close care, and his mother stepped up to provide it—even though she wasn’t sure what to do. She admits that she desperately needed help and resources to perform the task.

After fighting on her own to cope with the consequences of the injury, the woman teamed up with another woman who was in a similar situation and created an organization to help parents whose children have suffered brain injuries. As the women explain, being a caregiver for those with these injuries can be very difficult and affect everything from marriages and jobs to other family dynamics. As one caregiver explains, “when it’s an adult child or a spouse, someone has to take over a lot of responsibility. Roles have to change.”

Brain injuries come in a variety of forms. They may include memory loss, confusion, loss of sense, and sleep disturbance. Of course, the most traumatic injuries can prevent individuals from conducting basic tasks for themselves. One father who is caring for his son explained that he essentially went back to childhood, with someone needed to change diapers, help with showers, and similar tasks. Many victims are no longer able to walk. It is important that victims continue to work to get their lives back, but many will never able to return to the exact same state that they were in before the accident.

Our Illinois head injury attorneys are well versed in the trials and tribulations of families who are forced to reshape their lives because of the consequences of these accidents. Unfortunately, many of these injuries would have been avoided if others would have acted reasonably. Whether it is doctor that does not act appropriately when providing medical care or drivers that cause a serious accident, all victims deserve the right to receive compensation for losses caused by others. If you or someone you know is in this situation, be sure to contact our office to see how we can help. No family should go through this process alone, and it is vital that those who suffer these brain injuries through the fault of another have the resources available to receive the care that they need.

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Our Chicago brain injury lawyers know that these types of accidents can strike in a variety of situations, each of which may have severe consequences. Head injuries are much more common in certain types of situation, however—such as in physical sports or following complications in childbirth. Time and again those in our area suffer concussions, oxygen deprivation to the brain, and other damage that have the ability to cause permanent disability and even to end lives. The seriousness of these accidents should spur all those in a position to prevent the problem from occurring. This might involve ensuring that proper procedures are followed to prevent concussions during a football game or taking timely, emergency steps so that an infant has continuous oxygen flow into the brain.

However, brain injuries can arise for a number of reasons, and they should try to be prevented in all cases. The Bangor Daily News reported this week reported on a very unique that is spurring debate across the country. The situation revolves around an attempted suicide by a man who was an inmate at a county jail. The 24-year old man at the heart of the matter was jailed in 2009 on charges of domestic violence and criminal mischief. The man seemed particularly distraught by his situation in life and his legal problems. Upon his admission to the facility he was interviewed by an officer and when asked whether he had considered killing himself, he reported that he had. He went on to elaborate that his life was over, and that he felt ashamed for disappointing his young three year old daughter. In addition, the young man admitted being treated at a psychological hospital three weeks early.

The man was put in a jail cell for a few days. On one occasion he told a guard that if was not going to be able to be on the outside with his daughter than it was better if he weren’t alive at all. The 24-year old man admitted that he felt like he was losing his mind. That same day at a court appearance, the man explained out loud that if he was not freed he would kill himself that night. Bail was denied and he was taken back to his cell that afternoon. Within a half an hour he was found hanging in this cell. He was taken down and rushed to an emergency room. The man was in a coma for five days. He suffered a permanent brain injury that will require expensive, life-long care to treat. The man’s mother eventually filed a brain injury lawsuit claiming that the correctional officers should have done more to prevent their son from attempting suicide, which ultimately caused the injuries. The projected cost of the institutionalized medical care alone is $9 million.

Of course, there are many unique issues in this particular case. Our Illinois brain injury lawyers know that many community members have different feelings about the merit of a case such as this when compared to other common head trauma cases. However, it is important that all those who have claims that another violated a duty of care which led to the injury be allowed to at least raise the issue. The legal system is capable of rooting through the complications and allowing an impartial jury made up of community members to decide the issues of fact if it gets to that point.

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Head Injury Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Ex-Football Players

Former Illinois Athletes File Brain Injury Lawsuit Against Eastern Illinois University

Our Illinois sports injury lawyers know that one group that is at a high risk of suffering a brain injury are student-athletes. Throughout the year many young people—such as high school football players—engage in rough sports and expose themselves to potentially harmful accidents. In certain games, the risk of head injuries is particularly high. It doesn’t take much imagination to understand how things like the helmet-on-helmet collisions seen in many football games can expose students to potential brain injuries.

A recent New York Times article explored how one state is working to protect student-athletes from these often life-altering injuries. The story explains how new studies have shown that high-school age students experience more than 60,000 concussions each and every year across the country. The vast majority of those injures can be traced back to high school football. It is undeniably that the game is a rough one.

Not only that, but more and more evidence continues to mount revealing the long-term consequences of that repeated head trauma. A concussion can affect the lives of these students beyond the football season, the school year, and their high school experience. In fact, it is not uncommon for those who experienced continual small injuries to face permanent brain damage because of the problem.

The state recently passed new legislation which aims to protect athletes from this potential harm. For example, football programs will now be required to re-condition the oldest football helmets every two years. All helmets that are older than 16 years old cannot be used by players, because of risk that they cannot provide the protection that players need to keep them safe. On top of that new laws also require all schools to appoint a concussion oversight team, including physicians, to help better treat those who may have suffered from these injuries.

The chief sponsor of the legislation—known as the “helmet bill”—actually believes that the new measures do not go far enough to protect athletes from concussion risks. Instead he urges the lawmakers to require all athletes to undergo a baseline cognitive test to measure their memory before an injury. This then allows medical professionals better determine if a concussion was actually experienced in the event of intense head trauma.

Our Illinois brain injury lawyers are open to working with all those who suffer head injuries that could and should have been prevented. All those who run these athletic programs for all age levels must understand the risks associated with many of these sports. They must appreciate things that can be done to prevent the accidents and properly treat those who have suffered from a sports-related head injury. If you or a family member has been hurt in this way, consider visiting our office, sharing your story, and learning how the law applies in these situations. There is nothing to lose from learning more about the legal realities of these cases. Besides receiving fair compensation for the expenses caused by the loss, seeking accountability for these accidents may force decision-makers to enact changes that may spare others from suffering similar injuries.

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Two More Former Football Players File Illinois Concussion Lawsuit Against NCAA

Head Injury Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Ex-Football Players

Through years of working with victims of traumatic brain injuries, our Illinois head injury attorneys have come to appreciate the unique, life-altering damage that these accidents can have on individuals and their families. Unlike some other forms of injury which often heal properly and without permanent impairment, brain injuries often affect the lives of victims forever. The suffering that so often comes with these accidents makes it imperative that all those in a position to prevent potential head injuries should take reasonable steps to do so.

For example, the severe yet unique consequence that can follow these accidents was clearly revealed by a new ABC News profile of a family dealing with the aftermath of one of these incidents. The victim in this case was a 46-year old former NFL player and aviation entrepreneur. Three years ago, while walking in his office to the bathroom, he slipped on wet cleaning oil. The man‘s head landed hard against the floor after the impact. He was rushed to the hospital, but the damage was already done. It didn’t take long before his family realized that the injury had left him with severe memory problems. Essentially, the man had forgotten literally everything about the first 46 years of his life.

Doctors eventually diagnosed him with retrograde amnesia, which signifies the loss of memory of things before an injury. This is the opposite of anterograde amnesia which limits the victim’s ability to acquire permanent new memories after an accident. Our Illinois head injury attorneys know that both types of amnesia are rare, though possible for those who suffer any type of brain injury. Any time that oxygen is deprived to the brain, there are long-term, serious consequences. All forms of amnesia are somewhat mysterious, and medical professionals are still learning how it arises and what, if anything, can be done to treat it. Experts explain that in its “purest form,” retrograde amnesia can create “dense” memory loss in a patient who keeps their intelligence, reasoning, and language function. It occurs following damage to the patient’s temporal lobe or encephalitis.

The man in this case didn’t remember anything about his family, anything about his children, his wife, or his past career as a professional football player. However, he was able to understand written and spoken words, and he did retain some skills—like bike riding. His case is more severe than most, and doctors believe that it is permanent.

At first, the medical professionals thought that the slip and fall simply caused a concussion and that the memory loss was temporary. He was sent home from the hospital after three days. However, as his memory continued to deteriorate and he continued to feel disoriented, the victim went back to the doctor and had a brain scan performed. The scan discovered that the man had no blood flow to the right temporal lobe of his brain—the place where memory is stored. The family is working hard to piece their lives back together, but every day remains a struggle.

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Personal Injury Lawsuit Filed After 15-year old Injured During Deliveries

The Chicago head injury lawyers at our firm continue to watch as new information keeps pouring in regarding Illinois brain injury lawsuits filed by former college athletes against the NCAA. Recently two more players filed suit against the collegiate athletic association alleging that the organization failed to keep them safe from concussions or provide necessary medical care following the concussions to prevent future injury. The lawsuits are the latest in a string of cases brought against the association alleging that their inadequate conduct has led to many long-term problems for the student athletes that it is supposed to protect.

According to the Associated Press, this latest federal suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and it involves two former college football players who claim that they both suffered a preventable brain injury because of the misconduct of the NCAA. Specifically, the plaintiffs claim in the documents filed with the court that the organization failed to establish proper head screening systems or enforce safety measures that were enacted over forty years ago. To help prevent future injuries, those filing this latest suit seek to have the organization institute a medical monitoring program. This case follows in the footsteps of the one filed early last month by two former Illinois football players.

Those involved with both cases are seeking to have it certified as a “class-action” suit. A judge has the power to designate a suit a class-action when for various reasons. One of the most common reasons is when there is a large group of potential plaintiffs all suffering similar harm. In this way, it is more convenient to consolidate the case into a single suit where all of the plaintiffs are represented in their capacity as a member of the class. For example, if the judge determines that all of the criteria are met in this case, then other former football players who suffered injury may be able to receive some compensation if an award or settlement is reached in this case. This is true even though those individual players did not file suit or take any specific legal steps on their own. In class-action suits there are publicity requirements which seek to ensure that those who may be members of the class are made aware of their inclusion.

As our Illinois brain injury attorneys have often explained, head injuries are particularly dangerous because they can appear minimal at first but have serious long-term effects later. There really is no room for error when it comes to preventing and treating these problems. Considering that the NCAA is well aware of the problems of concussions, methods of preventing them, detecting the brain injuries, and providing the long-term treatment necessary, there is no reason why it should fail to take every step possible to keep athletes safe. Whether student athletes are in middle school, high school, or college, it is incumbent on those involved in the safety of the program to step up and demand that proper steps be taken to ensure these vulnerable players do not suffer life-long consequences because of these brain injuries.

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Head Injury Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Ex-Football Players

Former Illinois Athletes File Brain Injury Lawsuit Against Eastern Illinois University

The Times-Herald Union reported this week on developments in the case of a woman who has just been released after spending seven months in the hospital to recover from a traumatic brain injury that she suffered last year. Our Illinois brain injury lawyers know that when not fatal these accidents often leave victims’ lives forever altered—that appears to be true in this case as well.

The 42-year old single mother of three was at her then-boyfriend’s house when she suffered the mysterious injury. The accident occurred early one morning, around 2 a.m. However, her boyfriend did not call 911 or otherwise seek out immediate professional assistance. Instead the man called his own parents. They drove to the home and then together they all went to the hospital. The woman was unconscious at the time. She was thrown into unconsciousness for eight weeks, and spent several more months in the hospital recovering before being released to her parents this week.

She will continue to need around the clock care. As a result of the accident, her short term memory is severely hampered. In essence she is trapped in a world three years old. She struggles to recognize her children and must be told every week that her grandmother has passed away. However, she is capable of pointing out the names and faces of childhood friends and can recall events from her distant past. Doctors initially advised her family that she would likely not survive the accident, so they remain grateful that she has pulled through, even though it is not without permanent disability.

While she was recovering, her family fought hard to understand what exactly caused their daughter to suffer the brain injury. Her boyfriend claimed that the woman slipped and fell on his icy driveway. However, upon further examination the doctors began to question that story. One involved doctor explained that the amount of head trauma suffered by the woman was inconsistent with a fall onto ice below. She noted that “in a slip and fall, you usually will see concussive damage.” The damage experienced by the victim in this case was similar to those experienced following a fall from a high distance or another type of accident.

Police investigated the situation for weeks but have yet to file any criminal charges. However, earlier this year the family of the victim filed a personal injury lawsuit against the ex-boyfriend explaining that the boyfriend contributed to the severe accident by dropping her on the ground. The suit claims that the man was drunk at the time. In addition, the suit claims he was negligent in not calling 911 immediately. Further, the suit alleges that the boyfriend made the situation worse by withholding facts from medical professionals that would have been pertinent to her treatment.

The Illinois personal injury attorneys at Levin & Perconti have decades of experience helping families in this and similar situations uncover the roots cause of these mysterious accidents. Sadly, wherever these accidents occur—at home, in a hospital, or beyond—those responsible often do everything in their power to deflect accountability. That is why it remains important for victims and their families to have access to the civil justice system to ensure the truth wins out.

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